plumber

American  

[pluhm-er] / ˈplʌm ər /

noun

1. a person who installs and repairs piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with the water supply, drainage systems, etc., both in and out of buildings.

2. Slang. an undercover operative or spy hired to detect or stop leaks of news or secret information, often using questionable or illegal methods, as illegal entry or wiretapping.

3. Obsolete. a worker in lead or similar metals.

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plumber British  

/ ˈplʌmə /

noun

1. a person who installs and repairs pipes, fixtures, etc, for water, drainage, and gas

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Etymology

Origin of plumber

1375–1425; 1965–70 plumber for def. 2; late Middle English, spelling variant of Middle English plowber ≪ Late Latin plumbārius leadworker; replacing Middle English plummer < Anglo-French; Old French plummier < Latin, as above. See plumb, -er ²

Explanation

A plumber is someone whose job includes fixing pipes and installing water and sewage systems. If your kitchen sink is clogged, a plumber is the person to call. Plumbers's work ranges from relatively simple tasks like repairing toilets and removing clogs from drains, to much more complicated jobs including replacing all the old corroded pipes in a bathroom floor with new ones. The word plumber has been around since ancient Rome, when a plumber was "anyone who works with lead," and lead was a common material for pipes, baths, drains, and conduits. Fixing anything made of lead (which included roofs) made someone a plumber back then.

Example Sentences

Everybody’s favorite fearless and super capable princess is back for another adventure — along with the denizens of her kingdom and a pair of New York plumber brothers — in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Orban's childhood friend Lorinc Meszaros, a former plumber, has become Hungary's wealthiest man worth $4.8 billion according to Forbes magazine, with an empire of construction, energy, banking and media firms thriving on public contracts.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

As a manager or teacher or plumber or data analyst, you will be using different skills to do the same thing: communicate effectively, lead with confidence and, ultimately, anticipate and solve problems.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The opportunity to identify with a plucky little plumber made the game a global sensation, leading to the creation of “Super Mario Bros.” and its sequels to the present day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

My great-uncle Terry, Robbie’s husband, had abandoned a career as a plumber for the same reason, instead becoming a Pullman porter.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• agent
• detective
• informer
• investigator
• mole
• operative
• secret agent
• secret service
• undercover agent